Ben Update and Thank You to all who contributed!

Ben is doing great!  He still has some leftover issues from his Nov. surgery, but he's improved and I haven't heard any sleep apnea since then, which is a relief.  His burn areas are just absolutely healed up completely.  I don't even really see much of a line anymore (thankful for the Seattle winters:)  His therapies are really helping him along and we are at around 80-100 words now and using about 30-40 on a daily basis and getting some two word combos in there, so very hopeful.  I just watched the movie "The Horse Boy" on netflix where the boy doesn't speak but then gets on a horse and sentences come out, so Ben is headed off today to try some hippotherapy.  I hope he wants to get on the horse and he's more verbal with the movement!  I'll post a video if we are able to capture one.  Good things are in his world, helping him in any way possible from every therapy angle, every medical angle and every caretaker angle.  He's a sweet and lucky little boy.  And all those who contributed to the Be Strong Ben fund, really helped him this fall.  Many many thanks from the bottom of our hearts.  

 

Surgery # 6 for 2012

Ben had his 6th surgery for 2012 yesterday (adenoids, laryngomalacia and a BAER hearing test).  For a 2.5 year old, he has had a LOT of surgeries in a year (7th overall).  He knows the hospital look and smell.  He knows the white coats and blue scrubs.  He really really has anxiety when we have to step into a doctors office or hospital.  He did great with not eating for the whole day while we waited for surgery at 1:15pm (which was pushed until 2:45).  He saw food and would say "EAT"  "EAT" or "Yummy Yummy", but didn't have any meltdowns when I had to tell him no, not yet.  The hardest part for both him and I is the moment I bring him in the surgery room and have to hold him down while they gas him to sleep.  It wears on a mother to see her child stricken with panic and then all of a sudden limp as a noodle.  I know he feels so scared right before he nods off with the anesthesia.  They say the kind of anesthesia they use wipes their memory of the event, but I don't know if they have confirmation of it from children with Autism who seem to have a remarkable memory of everything and anything.  I know from Ben's reaction that he remembers.  
They called me into the recovery room as soon as he woke up as he was saying "mamma, mamma" over and over.  He calmed down instantly and awoke much more peacefully that he had security in my embrace.  We didn't sleep much that night, but come morning, super healing Ben was ready to GO.  He's doing so well that he's back in school today in fact.  I wish I healed as fast as Ben!  Sore throat still, but in a few days that will also have faded.  This surgery was to help with his sleep apnea and test his hearing to make sure wasn't a contributing factor in his speech delay - his hearing was perfect, so that was good news!).  
Ben has been so lucky to have so much support from so many people near and far as he travels the past year.  If you would like to help him still, be sure to pick up a Kona TShirt or bid on my Time Trial bike!  

Thank you everyone and happy holidays!
Danielle and Ben

Be Strong Ben Fund

Danielle, a former Ironman Triathlete and Cat 3 cyclist has faced what every athlete dreads and every mom fears - a tragic accident to her son and giving up a sport in which she loves and found success.

Danielle’s son Ben was in a kitchen accident in which Ben suffered first- and second-degree burns over 18% of his body while he and Danielle were in Costa Rica.  Ben had three surgeries while in Costa Rica to help his burns heal.  The generosity of friends is going to help them to handle the medical bills as a result of this major accident.  

It has already been a year of sacrifices for Danielle, who is a single mom and has given up her pets and her cycling equipment in order to help fund Ben’s autism therapy. The recent accident undoubtedly will add to the expenses of their lives.

Dotsie Bausch, her former coach and recent silver medalist at the London Olympics (Women’s Track Pursuit) had this to say about Danielle and Ben:

"I first met Danielle when she was an amateur bike racer and i enjoyed the fortune of coaching her and was witness to her inner strength, toughness and resilience. Her son Ben is her life now and like every mother who is selfless, Danielle will literally do anything for him, including selling her beloved bike equipment to help pay for his medical bills. Ben's accident could happen to anyone. Life sometimes hands us lemons, really bad, sour lemons, but through the journey back to health we learn valuable lessons of love and friendship and we grow more faithful to the goodness in this world. Danielle and her son Ben are some of the good people in this world and they deserve a break and some relief from the stress they have endured. Give generously if you are fortunate enough to be able to."

You can help in 2 ways: 

1)  Bid on Danielle's  Cervelo P2 SL Time Trial Bike (size 54)!

    This bike has only been ridden approximately 6 times.

 

Bid On Danielle's Bike! 

2) purchase a Cobb Cycling T-shirt and all proceeds will be donated

    to Be Strong Ben to off-set medical bills - $25 each with free shipping!  EVERY CENT GOES TO BEN!

                                                                               Buy A Cobb TShirt!

Please do what you can. Many of us donate to charities every year in order to better the lives of people we’ve never met; in this case, this mother and her child enjoy and have been part of the communities we are all passionate about in triathlon and cycling.  Understand that every cent will go toward any medical bills from the accident.  Any remaining funds will be donated to the following two charities that have been instrumental in Ben’s year of struggle:

Autism Speaks and Boyer Children’s Clinic


Thank you. For any questions, you can email Amy at amy@cobbcycling.com.  And feel free to pass this link and letter on to others who might be interested in helping her and Ben. Donations will be accepted through the month of December 2012.